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In an ideal world, you’ve renovated the house -- inside and out --
and your green thumb means the landscaping would win awards. But why
stop there? Outdoor lighting is an easy, and cost effective, way to
give your home a signature look. No longer just for safety and
security, outdoor lighting, when installed properly, is the way to
create today’s ‘lightscaping’. With so much to choose from, it is
simple to get designer-quality effects with little effort.
Buy
some in the morning, enjoy it in the evening. That’s how easy it is to
install low voltage outdoor lighting. However, there is no reason to
think this means a simple row of path lights, which would not look out
of place on an airport landing strip.
Yes, there are
practical reasons to light your property: safety remains the big issue.
But outdoor lighting is rapidly becoming a key visual element for an
attractive home. Good, energy-efficient lighting can create lively
moods for outdoor parties, while soft and subtle diffused lighting can
inspire romance or enhance relaxation.
John Grosche, a low voltage lighting expert with Intermatic, outdoor lighting specialists, said mixing and matching lighting fixtures can help avoid that ‘runway’ look.
“For
a pleasing design, mix eye-catching low voltage light fixtures with
lights that blend into the background and subtly highlight a property,”
Groshe said.
“Generally, large trees, front porches,
gazebos and walkways make great lighting focal points. And it is at
these focal points that you will often want to select a light fixture
with a distinctive design.”
To make the most of your
‘lightscaping’, first you will need to assess your property. Simply
put, walk around your yard and house and decide on focal points that
will benefit from outdoor lighting. Doing this at night with a
flashlight or two will help you to really visualize lighting solutions.
Then,
ask yourself the following questions: what are the property’s most
attractive features; which areas need to be lit for safety and
security; what are some areas that would benefit from an attractive
light fixture even during the day, and, what areas could benefit from
nighttime illumination.
A few easy lighting techniques can be utilized to achieve special effects at night:
Downlighting is light that comes from above to imitate natural light
created by the sun or moon. It may be used as safety lighting for
pathways, driveways, and stairs. Downlighting is also an effective way
to light decks and to accent plants and flower beds.
Uplighting adds depth to trees, landscapes and home
features by lighting from below, creating dramatic effects. By placing
lights at an angle, the textures of fences and walls can be accented.
Avoid placing lights were they would cause glare.
Backlighting silhouettes an object of interest, such as a
tree or shrub, against a lit surface. This indirect lighting effect is
achieved by angling the light against a wall or fence behind the
object.
Brad Wiesner, lighting merchant for Home Depot’s EXPO Design Centers,
said buying lighting fixtures in a variety of finishes that maintain
their good looks is an investment in the value of your home. “Landscape
Lighting is the key to highlighting your yard and provides visual
interest and drama. Low voltage landscape lighting is flexible and easy
to install,” he said.
With low voltage lighting, a
transformer is used to convert 120 volts from an outlet to a safe 12
volts. The path lights and spotlights can easily be moved and adjusted
as plants grow. This allows the homeowner to experiment and change the
lighting as their needs change.
Installation of low
voltage systems should not require extensive electrical knowledge, but
be sure to follow all installation guidelines. And also bear in mind;
you get what you pay for. Some lighting sets can run as low as $25, but
may not weather well over the winter if you live an extreme climate.
Environmental
conditions are the number one consideration in determining how long an
outdoor fixture will last. Finishes can fade from ultraviolet light.
Water causes corrosion when trapped by debris in a crevice of the
fixture. And the presence of water also causes incompatible metals to
fuse together, preventing access to the fixtures.
For
outdoor wall lanterns, Wiesner says dark finishes in bronze and shades
of black are the trend right now. “Lighting manufacturer's have taken
the quality details of interior lighting and interpreted those aspects
into exterior lighting. Multi-step finishes on outdoor lanterns enhance
and add beauty to the fixtures. Interesting glass helps diffuse the
light and provides decorative interest when off. There are many quality
decorative Exterior wall lanterns that can enhance the look and design
of your home.”
When planning outdoor home lighting,
make sure that what you choose does not light up your neighbor’s yard
as well as your own. Good low-glare options include linear “tube
lights” and fiber-optics. These can light the way for pedestrians
without illuminating the entire area. Cut-off fixtures and shades are
also useful in avoiding light pollution and spillover.
Solar
lights are environmentally friendly, but realistically, they need at
least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day to charge.
Still
a pretty option, and a really cost effective way of ‘lightscaping’ is
to use strings of Chinese lanterns or ‘party lights’. Candles and
torches can be used for interesting ambient lighting. However, add up
the cost of candles and fuel for your torches over a summer and you
might be wiser to invest in electric lighting.
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